HomeContemporary FictionThe light we lost

Cover of The light we lost

Contemporary Fiction · 2017 · PG-13

The light we lost

by Jill Santopolo

Some loves leave a mark that never fades — even decades later.

For14+GenreContemporary FictionLength290 pagesRead time~7.5 hours

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Content snapshot

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

Barely any

Brief war imagery related to Gabe's photography work; not graphic

Language

Barely any

Some mild language

Sexual Content

Some

Romantic and sexual content; not explicit but meaningfully present

Substance Use

Barely any

Social drinking in adult settings

Emotional Intensity

A lot

Deep grief, longing, regret, and the psychological weight of a decades-long love triangle

What this book is about

Lucy and Gabe meet on September 11, 2001 and fall into a transformative love that spans thirteen years and two continents. As Gabe pursues war photography and Lucy builds a stable life, their paths keep crossing — until a final, irreversible choice. Santopolo's emotionally devastating novel asks whether a perfect love is worth a perfect life.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

Adult romantic themes

Grief and loss

Implied infidelity

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